Jamestown/Allardt area (Clarksville, Johnson City, Crossville: appointed, homes, school)

[clarkjw2002]

Anyone live in or near, or is familiar with, the Jamestown/Allardt area?

Heading there to look at a property on the Clear fork river next week and would like any input on the general community that you could provide--friendliness, character, etc. How about average land costs? I can see what is advertised online but I don't know anything about actual selling prices.

I plan to set up a homestead in 10-15 yrs when I retire. Anyone know anything about the general suitability of the soil there? Seems to be acidic from what I've seen but I have the time to develop the soil. The site is currently forested and I believe the area I am interested in farming is composed of Lily loam--will have a better idea when I spend some time on the property.

Also, anyone know the average annual snowfall in the area? Hoping they get a few good snows a year. I lived in Clarksville for several years and was always disappointed about not getting any snow--except for the ice storm in Dec 04.

Currently living in Kenya (I am an entomologist in the Army) so any advance info I can get on the area is greatly appreciated.

[KnoxBrian]

I used to date a girl from Clarkrange, and spent alot of time up in that area. Fairly rural, so I imagine land costs would be affordable. Its a good 30 minuit ride or so to the big city of Crossville, although I think Jamestown now has a Wal-Mart. Soil wise, I would say the soil has alot of shale, being up on the plateau, the soil is not as deep, or fertile as say further down south in the sequatchie valley where all the nurseries are. They do get a few snows a year up on the plateau, although only a few inches at a time. On a side note, I had no idea the army had entomologists. I went to school for Horticulture, and always enjoyed my entomology classes at UT. Does the military have a Horticulture or Plant Sciences division also?

[clarkjw2002]

Thanks for the info. No horticulture folks in the Army. Us entomologists fall under preventive medicine--think public health--so we focus on diseases spread by mosquitoes and such. We also serve as sort of the naturalists for posts in the US when it comes to doing environmental assessments and managing forests etc--most of this is now contracted out to civilians though.

I'm not so much worried about soil fertility as this is something I can improve over time w/ good cover cropping management (maybe even increase depth a little?)--I have plenty of time still. I'm just not sure how easily the pH can be brought up to a more conducive level for most plants. from what I've seen the pH average for the soil type is 5.12. May be good for tomatoes though.

I always would like more snow but I think, as I get older, this might become more of a headache. Was looking around the Johnson City area as well but prices are higher there and it seems to be more crowded (I like rural).